A Real-Life Pregnancy: Week 25

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Photo Credit: Dean Lipoff

I'll admit I'm starting to get a little tired. For so long, I've been so proud just to be pregnant, unwilling to become what is considered a stereotypical, complaining pregnant woman. I've just powered through it, which is pretty much how I handle everything else in my life. I'm not good at asking others for help or admitting defeat. When I first discovered I was pregnant, I had just accomplished a 30-pound weight loss and was feeling pretty indestructible physically. Actually, I was in the best shape that I'd been in since I was 17. At 25 weeks pregnant, I'm starting to get a little tired—OK, I admitted it!

Getting Moving

I'm glad I've stuck with my walking routine. I walk about two miles every day, Monday through Friday. I know I'm lucky that I can walk to and from work—but I could just be lazy and drive my car. I started walking to work even before I got pregnant and I wasn't about to stop just because I'm expecting. Along with walking, I'm doing Pilates and weightlifting (light ones!). But I really feel that walking almost every day has kept me sane and healthy.

At this point, it's getting tougher not to find an excuse to take the car. I've driven myself to work a handful of times in the last couple of weeks feeling extremely guilty. I tried to make up for it later by keeping myself active in other ways. Maybe I'd spend extra time pushing the vacuum cleaner around or giving the tub an extra hard scrub. But in the end, I know deep down that walking is the best thing for me to do, and no matter what, I can't make excuses about not doing it.

Find Your Groove

If you haven't found something to do with yourself physically at this point during your pregnancy, walking is a great thing to try. If you're a gym person, by all means spend a couple hundred dollars to go and walk on a treadmill in a hot, sweaty gym while all the diehard exercisers stare at your bulging belly. Or, unless you live in a really hot or cold climate, you could do what I do and use the outdoors. I find that there are lots of streets around that are either quite public or private—whatever you prefer—to add to your walking route.

I walk the same route every day and have been walking it for about a year now, so I know the dogs, the cats, and which trees with fruit lean over fences for me to enjoy. I also know the routines of some of the other bikers and walkers in the neighborhood. We all have our little ways of acknowledging each other—I'll admit there are times that I keep my head down and keep to myself and others days that I make a stop at each fence to give a little scratch behind an ear, or say a heartier "hello" than usual. What I really find beneficial is a little time to myself to walk, listen to the noises around me—and listen to my body.

Try it, you might find that you like walking too. The hardest part is doing it for the first time. You might be worried that you will look ridiculous, or that you don't have the right shoes to wear, or you don't have something that will fit you right. Guess what? It doesn't matter. If you're comfortable, that's all that's important. You're keeping yourself healthy and happy—and starting a good routine that you can continue with your baby!

Sarah's Stats

Waist measurement: 40.5 inches
Weekly weigh-in: 162 pounds
Pregnancy symptoms: I'm getting tired. This is a different tired than the first couple of months when I found myself grabbing little power naps in the afternoon. Think tired feet and back. Sore-body tired that even lying around on the couch doesn't seem to fix.
My pregnancy advice for the week: "Just put your feet up—you'll feel better!" Right. More like give me a full body massage and do all the laundry, cooking, grocery shopping, and cleaning for me—maybe then I won't feel so tired.
Pregnancy "first" of the week: I got my husband to rub my feet—it felt really good! Take advantage of this time and make your partner do some hands-on massage to help your body stay relaxed and comfortable!
Doctor's visit: Not this week.

About the Photo: The above picture of the author was taken during her 25th week of pregnancy by Dean Lipoff.

Read the next installment: week 26